Islam Selmani is the Mediterranean karate champion after winning gold at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games. In the final of the up to 60 kg category, he defeated Turkish karate athlete Burak Ozdemir 1-0. The bout was closely contested, with Selmani scoring the only point.
This is Kosovo’s seventh medal in Taranto and its second gold.
Selmani began the day with a 2-0 victory over France’s Sami Tas. In the quarterfinals, he defeated Cyprus’ Andreas Gavriel. The Cypriot athlete was leading the bout but was disqualified.
In the semifinals, 21-year-old Selmani produced a convincing performance against accomplished Greek karate athlete Christos Xenos, winning 11-5.
Three other Kosovo karate athletes are also competing today: Elmedina Istogu, Vlerë Qerimi and Betim Maliqi.
Albulenë Gërvalla was eliminated in her opening bout, while Qëndresa Ibrahimi won her first bout before losing in the semifinals and then in the bronze medal contest, finishing fifth overall.
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